Electrically operated toothbrush



May 18, .1943 F. BUCK ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TOOTHBRUSH Filed April 3, 1939 12 30 f i :Il :l IV III" luy Patented May 18, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,319,205 ELECTRICALLY OPERATED 'roo'rHBRUsH Foster Buck, Lisle, Ill. Application April 3, 1939, serial No. 265,637

(ci. 12s-41) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically operated tooth brush mechanism.

Electrically operated tooth brushes of the portable or hand type have long'been known and numerous types and constructions have been proposed. Because of cumbersomeness, cost, and for various other reasons, none of them has met with suilicient approval to bring such an article into general use by the public, y

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a simple, inexpensive electrically operated tooth brush which is effective for the cleansing of the teeth and the massaging of the gums.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an operating mechanism which is responsive to the exertion of pressure against the tooth brush as an incident to the normal use of the tooth brush.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel casing or housing for the operating unit of the tooth brush mechanism.

Further and important objects of the invention will become clear from a consideration of the drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and more fully described and wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the general appearance of the tooth brush device of my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken along the v line 3 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the vibrator unit.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing a modied form of my invention which is adapted for use with direct current.

In general, the electrically operated tooth brush of the present invention comprises a casing or housing within which is mounted the means for causing movement of the tooth brush. In the preferred embodiment, this means comprises an electromagnet made up of a core and windings therefor. A pivoted arm, preferably made of a mild steel, is provided which is adapted to be vibrated and to which a tooth brush is adapted to be operatively connected so as to vibrate with said pivoted arm. The pivoted arm is provided with an armature portion, preferably of soft iron, which, in normal and inoperative position, is essentially in contact with an extended part of the core. When the core windings are connected to a suitable source of electric current, the device,

as stated, is inoperative. However, when pressure is exerted against the tooth brush, for example, by urging the same against the teeth. the armature, which is attached to the pivoted arm and which is, in turn. operatively connected to the tooth brush, moves away from contact with the core, and the tooth brush then vibrates.

The casing is of the bi-part type and comprises two complemental sections of essentially similar construction. Each of these sections is provided on its inner surface with a relatively short, narrow upstanding rib, preferably formed integrally with said sections, which is adapted frictionally to engage a side of the vibratory arm sothat, although there is no interference with the vibration of the arm within the relatively narrow amplitude within which it moves, the casing sections lock together without the necessity for any additional means. In order to prevent too ready dis-assembly of the device, however, I prefer to use additional fastening means such as-screws or the like as seen more particularly in the drawing,

As is shown clearly in Figure 2, the device comprises a casing I0, within which is mounted the operating mechanism. In its preferred form, this comprises an electromagnet comprising a cylindrical core II and a coil or windings I2, the

windings being covered with an insulating layer I3 of paper or the like. Insulating discs I4 and I6 of fiberboard or the like are provided as shown. An arm I'l, having side members or arms I8 and I9, is attached to the core I I by means of a screw 2I or the like which passes through a spring washer 22 and is threaded into the core. The arm I 1 is of resilient metal and is pivotally mounted so that it may vibrate within a narrow amplitude as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2.

Between the sides I8 and I9 of the arm I I is an armature block 23, preferably made of soft iron, a screw 24 or the like being used to attach the same tothe arm. The block 23 normally is maintained in essential contact with a flattened portion 26 on the core II when the windings therefor are connected to a source of alternating current or the like. In this position, the device is in inoperative position, that is, the arm I'I re mains stationary. Attached to the side member I8 in any suitable way as, for example, by means of a screw 27 is a tooth brush stem or holder 28 which serves to detachably hold a tooth brush 29, the latter being rmly but removably held in an opening or aperture therein preferably by friction. The brush stem 28 passes through a relatively soft rubber or like grommet 3| which allows vibratory movement of the stem when the device is operated. A cord 32 leading to a source of electric current is attached to the coil or windings I2 on the disc I5.

The casing itl, as shown in Figure 3, is made lup of two Vcomplemental sections 33 and u.

' I2. The engagement is frictional but does not in any way interfere with the vibratory movement of the arm Il when the device is in operation. The result is that when the sections 33 and 3d of 'the casing l@ are secured together as a unit, the

arm Il and associated apparatus are held in place. without the necessity of employing additional fastenlng means. Nut and bolt assemblies 3l and 38 are employed to secure the casing sections 33 and 36 together,

The operation of the device is believed to be 'clear from the foregoing description. When the coil is connected to a source of alternating or pulsating current, the device does not function although current is fiowing through the coil. However, when the tooth brush is pressed against lthe teeth to initiate the cleaning operation, the movement of the armature block 23 away from contact with the core II causes the arm Il to vibrate and this, in turn, causes the vibration of the tooth brush. It will be seen that the movement of the tooth brush is in a direction which is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the core although the plane of movement is in line with the-longitudinal Xaxis of the core.

In the illustrative embodiment of my invention as disclosed in the drawing, the device is operated by alternating or pulsating current. If it is desired-to adapt the mechanism for opera.- tion also from a source of direct current, this may be accomplished by an interrupter means which can be mounted within the casing I@ as indicated in Figure 5. As there shown, contact buttons 39 and 6I, mounted on arms d2 and 03, respectively, are attached to the core I I, flattened on opposite sides as shown, by means of a screw td or the like, insulating washers t8, @l and d@ being utilized to separate the arms d2 and d3.

. The contacts 3S and Ill are connected in series with the coil and a source of power such as an ordinary vcommercial line. Conveniently, one

Llead ll from the coil I2 is connected to the arm d2 and the other lead d5 from the coil I2 connected to a commercial power source. A conductor is connected to the arm 43 and is also connected to the opposite side of the line. The arm d3 is extended and abuts against the lower end of an insulating member t9 which is attached to the side I8. It will be seen, therefore, that when the armature block 23 is in contact with the core II the contact buttons are spaced apart and the circuit is incomplete. However, when pressure is exerted against the tooth brush as an incident to the use of the device, the mem- What I claim as new an-d desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. The combination of a casing and an electrically operated tooth brush mechanism or the like, the operating mechanism of which includes a vibratable arm, said casing comprising essentially similar complemental sections which are adapted to form a relatively tight enclosure, the inner surface of each of said sections being provided with -a relatively short, narrow upstanding rib which is so constructed and arranged as to frictlonally engage one side of said pivoted, vibratable arm of the operating mechanism and positive fastening means to secure the complemental sections together as a unit whereby when the complemental sections are secured together as a unit the mechanism of which the vibratable arm forms a part may be held in position without the necessity for additional fastening means, the parts being so constructed and arranged las to permit movement of said vibratable arm when ,the operating mechanism is in operation.

2, In combination with an electrically operated tooth brush mechanism, an electromagnet comprising a core and windings therefor, a pivoted arm adapted to be vibrated, a part of said arm being essentially in contact with at least a part of said core when said windings are connected to a source 0f electric current, the yarm being inoperative in such position, a toothbrush carried by said arm a bi-part casing within which said mechanism is enclosed, the inner surface of each part of said casing being provided with a narrow, upstanding rib which is so constructed and arranged as to frictionally engage a side of said pivoted arm, and positive fastening means to secure the complemental sections together as a unit whereby when the casing is held together as -a unit the electrically operated mechanism of which said arm forms a part is secured in flexed relation to said casing without the necessity for additional fastening means, the parts being so constructed and arranged as to permit movement of said vibratable arm away from contact with said core by the exertion of pressure against the tooth brush whereupon the arm is set into vibration.

3. An electrically operated vibrating toothbrush device which is adapted to operate on direct current comprising an electromagnet comprising a core tand windings therefor, a pivoted arm adapted to be vibrated, a part of said arm comprising an armature which is in essential contact with a part of said core, the device. being inoperative in such position, a brush carried by said pivoted arm, said armature being responsive to movement of said brush in operative engagement with a work surface, such as the teeth, and a pair of contact members which are open when the device is in inoperative position but which are adapted to close responsive to the movement of the armature away from contact with the core.

\ FOSTER BUCK. 

